Merger creates pet food specialty retail giant

Merger creates pet food specialty retail giant

Pet Valu and Pet Supermarket have merged to create the third largest pet specialty retailer and the largest small-format, neighborhood pet specialty retailer in North America. The combined business is named Pet Retail Brands. This merger follows a trend in the pet food industry of mergers and acquisitions.

With over 930 stores, Pet Retail Brands will generate approximately $1 billion in system-wide retail sales across the US and Canada. Pet Retail Brands will have an extensive retail footprint with stores from the East Coast to the West Coast and from Miami to Vancouver. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Both Pet Valu and Pet Supermarket offer a broad selection of premium pet food, supplies and services sold by trained professional staff. Small format stores provide pet owners with the convenience to shop locally in a community-oriented environment.

Pet Valu was taken private by an affiliate of Roark Capital in August 2009. Pet Supermarket was acquired by an affiliate of Roark Capital in April of 2015. Pet Retail Brands will remain headquartered in Markham, Ontario and Pet Supermarket operations will continue to be based in Sunrise, Florida.

Merchandising will be a shared service supporting both Pet Valu and Pet Supermarket with separate and distinct assortment strategies. Senior management is in the process of restructuring and expanding the category management team to serve both banners and will continue to maintain merchandising teams in Markham, Ontario, Beavercreek, Ohio and Sunrise, Florida.

As part of the transaction, Thomas McNeely becomes president and chief executive officer of Pet Retail Brands. McNeely has been chief executive officer of Pet Valu since August 2009.

“Bringing together two of the fastest growing pet specialty retailers creates a powerful platform to share resources and best practices to support both Pet Supermarket, Pet Valu and their loyal customers, said McNeely in a press release.

Concurrent with the closing of the transaction, Diane Holtz announced her retirement from her role as Pet Supermarket’s president and chief executive officer. Holtz joined Pet Supermarket in 1992 and has served as President and COO since 2002. She was President and CEO and a member of the board since 2015.

McNeely announced the appointments of Julie Johnston as chief merchandising and supply chain officer for Pet Retail Brands, Tina Shane as senior vice president of operations for Pet Supermarket and Christine Martin Bevilacqua as chief administration officer for Pet Retail Brands.